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Reshuffle on cards as Noda tries to win support for bill

Japan’s public broadcaster reported a Cabinet reshuffle has been scheduled for Monday (Evan Vucci)

YOSHIHIKO NODA, the prime minister of Japan, is expected to reshuffle his cabinet
as he tries to persuade the country’s opposition to help pass a bill
to increase taxes.

Noda today met Ichiro Ozawa, the head of an important group in the ruling
party, but the latter is against the proposed tax rise and the pair failed
to agree on the measure.

Noda said after his meeting with Ozawa that he was now in talks with the opposition,
which is demanding the removal of two cabinet ministers as the price of its
support.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that a cabinet reshuffle has been
scheduled for tomorrow.

Noda believes the tax plan is needed to trim public debt and fund recovery
projects connected to last year’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear
disasters. His proposals would see the 5% sales tax double by 2015.